Self-adjusting mill-roll supporting mandrel



sept. 1, 1964 S/EBERY; rxfcurmx SePt- 1 1964 R. H. scHULTz ETAL 3,146,964

SELF-ADJUSTING MILL-ROLL SUPPORTING MANDREL III Sept 1, 1964 R. H. scHULTz r-:TAL 3,146,964

SELF-ADJUSTING MILL-ROLL. SUPPORTING MANDREL Filed Aug. 1'7, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CONTIN UED United safes Patent o 3,146,964 SELF-ADIUSTING MILL-R011.. SUPPRTING MANDREL Rudolph H. Schultz, 224 Highland Blvd., Brooklyn, NX.,

and Adam .lames Siebert, deceased, late of Flushing,

NX., by Bertha Siebert, executrix, 171-li1 Courtney Ave., Flushing, Nfi?.

Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 132,242 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-72) The present invention relates to a reversible self-centering mandrel for simultaneously supporting the core of a relatively large mill-roll of web material and positively gripping the core to apply a braking torque or similar control torque thereto while the web is being fed to a processing machine such as a rewinding machine.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, Serial No. 564,255 filed on February 8, 1956, now Patent No. 3,001,736 issued on September 26, 1961.

The mandrel of the present invention positively grips the internal surface of the hollow core of the mill-roll so that a continuous unidirectional braking or control torque may be applied to the mill-roll in a preselected direction of rotation for tensioning the web and regulating the paying out velocity.

Generally, the mandrel of the present invention comprises a main shaft adapted to be mounted in and controlled by the processing machine to which the web is delivered from the mill-roll. The main shaft is provided with axially spaced supporting collars over which the core of the mill-roll may slide freely. Advantageously, one of the collars includes manually releasable locking means for preventing relative axial movement between the mill-roll and the mandrel. Disposed intermediate the two supporting collars is a group of elongated axially extending gripping flaps which are symmetrically and uniformly angularly spaced around the longitudinal axis of the main shaft. Each gripping ap is individually pivoted for limited angular movement in either direction about an axis spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main shaft. The free edges of the gripping flaps simultaneously engage the internal surface of the mill-roll and dig into the internal surface so that the unidirectional control torque is positively transmitted from the control shaft to the mill-roll core without any slippage. Relative rotation between the mill-roll and the main shaft in the opposite direction will urge the ilaps inwardly against the yielding action of the spring mechanism, thereby unlocking the gripping flaps so that the mandrel may be withdrawn from the mill-roll.

At one end, each of the gripping flaps is provided with a sloping cam surface which forces the flap inwardly against the action of the spring mechanism as the mandrel is inserted in the core of the mill-roll. Because the aps are spring-biased to extend radially outwardly, it may be necessary to urge the flaps radially inwardly from their normally radially outwardly extending positions before the mandrel can be inserted into the core of the mill-roll by engagement of the cam surfaces with the end of the core. After engagement between the end of the core and the cam surfaces, further inward displacement of the ap members is produced by axial movement of the mandrel into the core until the gripping edges of flap members are received therein. Thereafter, the mandrel is moved into the core. As previously stated, a locking collar is provided as one of the supporting members for the mill-roll, the other supporting member being a flanged collar which cannot enter the core. The cam surfaces are located adjacent to the locking collar and the flaps extend between the two collars or supporting ICCv members. When the locking collar is in its locking position, the mill-roll is held against axial displacement by being locked between the two collars.

Various objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specilcation with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a non-reversible mandrel in accordance with the invention, the mill-roll being indicated in dotted outline.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly broken away to illustrate details of construction, the view being taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3 with the mill-roll removed.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 with the mill-roll removed.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing one of the gripping flaps in engagement with the mill-roll core.

FIGURE 7 is a plan fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7 7 of FIG. 4.

FIGURES 8a and 8b, when combined, constitute an exploded perspective view of the complete mandrel shown in FIG. l.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view of the locking collar, partly broken away to illustrate details of construction.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mandrel designated generally as 11 is shown with a mill-roll of sheet material designated generally as 12 mounted thereon. The mill-roll 12 is indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 1 to present a better view of the mandrel 11.

The mandrel 11 comprises a main shaft 13 which is of suitable length and diameter to be mounted in a machine (not shown) to which a moving web of sheet material is to be fed from'thc mill-roll 12.

The mill-roll 12 comprises a web of sheet material 14 such as paper, plastic hlm, or metal foil for example, wound on a hollow cylindrical core 15 which may be formed of aluminum tubing, cardboard tubing or the like.

Mounted on the main shaft 13 are two axially spaced supporting collars 16 and 17. The collar 17 is a locking collar which is described in greater detail below. The external diameter of the greater portion of collar 16 is slightly less than the internal diameter of the hollow core 15 for freely sliding engagement therewith. The supporting collar 16 is provided with an annular stop ange 1S which limits the longitudinal movement of the millroll 12 toward the left on the mandrel 11, as viewed in FIG. l, and serves to locate the mill-roll 12 in its correct longitudinal position on the mandrel 11 when the millroll 12 is in engagement with the flange 1S. The locking collar 17 is similarly dimensioned to slide freely through the tubular mill-roll core 15 when the locking member is retracted as described in greater detail below. The collars 16 and 17 are adjustably xed to the main shaft 13 by set screws 19 and Ztl, respectively, and may be positioned as desired on main shaft 13 in accordance with the width of the web 14E.

The outer surface of the main shaft 13 has three centrally located longitudinal grooves 21 formed therein intermediate its ends. The grooves 21 are regularly circumferentially spaced apart around the surface of the main shaft 13. The number of grooves may be varied 3 as desired, three grooves being illustratively shown in the embodiment of the invention herein described.

Disposed for pivotal movement in each of the three grooves 21 is a gripping flap member 23. Each gripping flap 23 is rounded at its inner edge 24 but is otherwise of generally rectangular cross-section. Each ap member 23 is provided at opposite ends with longitudinally extending axially aligned pivot shanks 25 and 26 of circular cross-section, the inner portion of the external surface of each of the pivot shanks 25 and 26 forming a continuation of the rounded inner edge 24 of each gripping flap member 23. Each of the grooves 21 is bevelled at one side at 27 to permit free pivotal movement of the gripping ap 23 mounted therein in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, the opposite side of each groove 21 being straight and parallel to a plane passing through the rotational axes of the shaft 13 and the Shanks 25 and 26. Each ap member 23 is also provided at opposite ends with actuating studs 28 and 29 located radially outwardly of the Shanks 25 and 26, respectively.

Mounted on main shaft 13 intermediate collars 16 and 17 are spring retaining collars 31 and 32 which cooperate with rotatable flap actuating discs 33 and 34, respectively.

The pivot Shanks 25 and 26 extend along the grooves 21 and under the inner circular surfaces of the spring retaining collars 31 and 32 and the actuating discs 33 and 34, respectively, so that the ap members 23 are all securely locked for pivotal movement in their respective grooves 21. The spring retaining collars 31 and 32 are adjustably fixed to the main shaft 13 by means of set screws 35 and 36, respectively, the spring retaining collars 31 and 32 being positioned to prevent longitudinal movement of lap members 23 and actuating discs 33 and 34 along main shaft 13. One side of the spring retaining collar 31 has a circular groove 3S formed therein which opens toward the actuating disc 33. The spring retaining collar 32 is similarly provided with a circular groove 39 which opens toward the actuating disc 34.

A helical compression spring 40 (FIGS. 4 and 8a) is disposed in the groove 38 of spring retaining collar 31 and a similar spring 41 (FIG. 8b) is disposed in the groove 39 of spring retaining collar 32. The spring 4t) bears at one end against the upper side of a iixed stud 42 carried by the spring retaining collar 31 and disposed in the circular groove 38. The opposite end of spring 40 bears against the upper side of a movable stud 43 xed to the rotatable actuating disc 33 for movement therewith. The helical spring 4d is constrained by the side walls of the groove 38 to assume a generally semicircular configuration. Because of the accompanying friction against the side walls of the groove 38, it is desirable to use a spring `the length of which does not appreciably exceed 180 of arc when disposed in the circular groove.

The actuating disc 33 is provided with three radially elongated slots 44 in which the actuating studs 28 of flap members 23 are radially movable and which constrain the studs 28 to follow rotational movements of the disc 33. The aps 23 are therefore yieldingly urged by actuating disc 33 for pivotal movement in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 or in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, the disc 33 being continuously urged in such direction by the compression spring 40.

Similarly, at the right hand end of the mandrel 11 as viewed in FIGS. l, 3, 8a and 8b, one end of the compression spring 41 disposed in the groove 39 of spring retaining collar 32 bears against the upper surface of a fixed stud 45 in groove 39 and its opposite end bears against a movable stud 46 fixed to rotatable actuating disc 34 for movement therewith. The actuating disc 34 is provided with three radially elongated slots 48 in which the actuating studs 29 of flap members 23 are slidably disposed. The spring 41 vthus urges the ap members 23 for rotation in unison with the spring 40, the action of the two springs 40 and 41 being cumulative and applied to opposite ends of each flap member 23 by means of the actuating,r discs 33 and 34 and the actuating studs 28 and 29, respectively.

The rotation of actuating disc 33 is limited by a movable stop stud 49 carried by the disc 33 and which may move only between two circumferentially spaced xed studs 5G disposed in the circular groove 38 of spring retaining collar 31. The rotation of actuating disc 33 is similarly limited by a movable stud 51 carried by disc 33 which is movable between spaced tixed stop studs 52 disposed in groove 39 of spring retaining collar 32.

In order to facilitate sliding the mandrel 11 into the core 15 of a mill-roll, each of the gripping ap members Z3 is generally tapered at its right hand end as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 8a to provide a smooth cam surface 53 which will be engaged by the end of the mill-roll core 15. As the mandrel 11 enters the mill-roll core 15, the core will press simultaneously against the three cam surfaces 53 and will cause the three flap members 23 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2, 8a and 8b, thereby rotating the actuating discs 33 and 34 against the yielding pressure of compression springs 40 and 41 and moving the flap members 23 from their radially extended positions shown in FIG. 5 to the inclined retracted positions indicated in FIG. 6.

The locking collar, which is designated generally as 17, comprises a body portion 55. The body 55 has an arcuate slot 56 formed therein wherein a locking member 5"] is received. rhe body 55 is fastened to the shaft 13 by set screws 2t) and 59. The locking member 57 is generally semicircular in shape. In the retracted position of locking member 57, as shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral cylindrical surface of body portion 55 is substantially but slightly over flush with the outer peripheral surface of the locking member 57. In its extended, or locking position, which is indicated in dot-dash outline in FIG. 9, the locking member 57 protrudes beyond peripheral surface of the body portion 55 so that it blocks longitudinal movement of the core 15 over the locking collar 17. One end of the locking member 57 is secured to a pivot pin 66. The pivot pin 60 is held against axial movement by a set screw 61. The other end is provided with a blind hole 62 which confronts a similar blind hole 63 formed in the body 55. In the retracted position of locking member 57, the blind holes 62 and 63 are coaxially aligned. A helical compression spring 64 which is confined in the holes 62 and 63 yieldingly urges the locking member 57 toward its extended or locking position. This movement is limited by engagement of the end of locking member 57 which is adjacent to the pivot pin with the end of the slot 56. A recess or hole 65 (FIG. 9) formed in locking member 57 intermediate its ends is adapted to receive the inner end of a control pin 66 when the locking member 57 is in its retracted position. The control pin 66 is axially slidably mounted in the body 55. A flange 67 formed in the pin 66 limits inward movement thereof into the body 55.

One end of a substantially flat arcuate leaf spring 68 is secured to the body 55 by a nut 70. The other end of the leaf spring 68 is apertured to receive the control pin 66 and presses against the flange 67. A knurled handle '71 is threaded on the outer portion of the control pin 66, the free end of leaf spring 68 being gripped between the handle 71 and the tlange 67. When the locking member 57 is in its retracted position, the leaf spring 68 holds the control pin 66 in the hole 65 so that the locking member 57 is releasably held in the retracted inoperative position. When the locking member 57 is in its extended position, the control pin 66 is held out of the hole 65. When the locking member is manually pressed inwardly against the action of compression spring 64, as soon as the hole 65 comes into alignment with control pin 66, the leaf spring 68 passes the control pin 66 into hole 65. Pulling on handle 71 withdraws control pin 66 from hole 65 and thereupon compression spring 64 moves the locking member 57 to its extended operative position.

The internal diameter of the mill-roll core 15 is such that a small clearance is provided between the core 15 and the collars 16 and 17, this clearance being made as small as possible consistent with commercial variations in the internal diameter of the core 15 for the various mill-rolls, the clearance being such as to provide a free sliding fit for the collars 16 and 17 as the mandrel 11 is inserted in the core 15 with the locking member 57 retracted. Thus, the mill-roll will be supported by the collars 15 and 16 independently of the gripping ap members 23.

In operation, it is assumed by way of illustration, that the web 14 is drawn under tension applied by some web processing machine (not shown) to unwind the web 14 from the mill-roll 12. Under such circumstances, a friction brake or other regulating device (not shown) will be connected to the main shaft 13 to oppose and regulate this unwinding and thereby continuously maintain the desired tension in the web 14.

The pressure of compression springs 40 and 41 tends to cause the gripping aps 23 to assume the generally radial positions shown in FIG. 5, with the mandrel removed from the mill-roll. With the mandrel inserted in the mill-roll, however, the gripping flap members 23 are constrained to assume positions as indicated in FIG. 6, with their square outer free edges or gripping edges 54 pressed into positive gripping contact with the inner surface of the mill-roll core 15.

In FIG. 6, the web 14 is assumed to be under tension which causes the mill-roll 12 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, the mandrel 11 is further assumed to be subjected to a control torque to oppose this rotation and regulate the web tension. As a result, square edges 54 of the gripping llap members 23 are urged in a counterclockwise direction and the three square edges 54 are thereby simultaneously forced to dig more deeply into the inner surface of the millroll core 15 for transmitting the control torque in a positive and reliable manner from the mandrel 11 to the mill-roll 12. The mandrel 11 thus becomes locked to the mill-roll 12, without the manipulation of any locking device, and is also centered coaxially with the main shaft 13.

If the direction of this torque is reversed, the flaps 23 will rotate in a clockwise direction and disengage the square edges 54 from locking engagement with the core 15, except for friction caused by the relatively light pressure produced by the compression springs 40 and 41. This will release the mandrel 11 so that it may be quickly and easily withdrawn from an empty core.

The sharpness of the square edges 54 may be varied and special high-friction material or roughened gripping surfaces may be used to obtain the desired locking action.

While we have shown what we believe to be the best embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mandrel for supporting a roll of web material wound upon a tubular core, said mandrel comprising, in combination: a revoluble main shaft adapted to have a control torque applied thereto for regulating the tension in said web during the unwinding of said web from said roll; a plurality of ap members carried by said shaft for rotation therewith, each of said ap members being pivoted for movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of said shaft; spring means yieldingly urging all of said flap members simultaneously to assume radially outwardly directed positions, each of said flap members comprising a free edge gripping portion engageable with the internal surface of said core, a cylinder circumscribing said edge portions with said flap members radially outwardly directed being of a diameter greater than the internal diameter of said core, a first collar member on said shaft slidingly ttable within said core, said first collar member comprising a flange portion engageable with one end of said core to prevent movement thereof beyond said first collar member, a second collar member on said shaft slidingly ittable in said core, said rst and second collar members being adapted to support said core independently of said flap members, a locking member in said second collar member, said locking member being movable between an extended position wherein movement of said core over said second collar member is prevented and a retracted position wherein said locking member is substantially flush with the peripheral surface of said second collar member, and means for selectively retaining said locking member in either its extended position or its retracted position.

2. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein said locking member is of arcuate shape, and wherein said last named means comprises an axially movable pin engageable with said locking member intermediate its ends for retaining said locking member in its retracted position.

3. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein said locking member is mounted in said second collar member for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of said shaft, and in which said locking member has a recess formed therein which is radially displaced outwardly from said axis of pivotal movement, said means for selectively retaining said locking member cornprising an axially displaceable pin mounted in said second collar member, one end of said pin being receivable in said recess with said locking member in its retracted position and excluded therefrom with said locking member in its extended position, the other end of said pin extending outwardly of said second collar member for manually pulling said one end out of said recess, resilient means yieldingly urging said pin toward said locking member, and further resilient means yeldingly urging said locking member toward said extended position.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 676,335 Mofatt lune 11, 1901 1,188,369 Chernack June 20, 1916 1,946,455 Davis Feb. 6, 1934 1,956,429 Toothaker Apr. 24, 1934 2,042,171 Durand et al May 26, 1936 2,151,831 Buccicone Mar. 28, 1939 2,274,681 Fletcher Mar. 3, 1942 2,466,472 Oster Apr. 5, 1949 2,784,820 Clark Mar. 12, 1957 3,001,736 Schultz et al Sept. 26, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 516,937 Germany Jan. 28, 1931 386,435 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1933 848,941 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1960 

1. A MANDREL FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF WEB MATERIAL WOUND UPON A TUBULAR CORE, SAID MANDREL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A REVOLUBLE MAIN SHAFT ADAPTED TO HAVE A CONTROL TORQUE APPLIED THERETO FOR REGULATING THE TENSION IN SAID WEB DURING THE UNWINDING OF SAID WEB FROM SAID ROLL; A PLURALITY OF FLAP MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, EACH OF SAID FLAP MEMBERS BEING PIVOTED FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF SAID SHAFT; SPRING MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING ALL OF SAID FLAP MEMBERS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO ASSUME RADIALLY OUTWARDLY DIRECTED POSITIONS, EACH OF SAID FLAP MEMBERS COMPRISING A FREE EDGE GRIPPING PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID CORE, A CYLINDER CIRCUMSCRIBING SAID EDGE PORTIONS WITH SAID FLAP MEMBERS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY DIRECTED BEING OF A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID CORE, A FIRST COLLAR MEMBER ON SAID SHAFT SLIDINGLY FITTABLE WITHIN SAID CORE, SAID FIRST COLLAR MEMBER COMPRISING A FLANGE PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE END OF SAID CORE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT THEREOF BEYOND SAID FIRST COLLAR MEMBER, A SECOND COLLAR MEMBER ON SAID SHAFT SLIDINGLY FITTABLE IN SAID CORE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND COLLAR MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID CORE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID FLAP MEMBERS, A LOCKING MEMBER IN SAID SECOND COLLAR MEMBER, SAID LOCKING MEMBER BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN AN EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN MOVEMENT OF SAID CORE OVER SAID SECOND COLLAR MEMBER IS PREVENTED AND A RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID LOCKING MEMBER IS SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID SECOND COLLAR MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY RETAINING SAID LOCKING MEMBER IN EITHER ITS EXTENDED POSITION OR ITS RETRACTED POSITION. 